Pocket cigarette-machine.



' Patented Oct. 17, I899.

No. 635,0l8.

r4. KEEN. POCKET CIGARETTE MACHINE.

(Application filed Nov. 23, 1898) .(No Model.)

m: nonms PETERS co. PHOTO-Linda. WASHINGTON, 01c

PATENT rrrcn.

MORRIS KEEN, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

POCKET CIGARETTE-'MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 635,018, dated October17, 1899. Application filed November 23, 1898. 61 NO- 6971Z25- (N0111M161l To all LU/00711, it may concern..-

Be it known that I, MORRIS KEEN, a citizen of the United States,residing in the city and county of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania,have invented a new and useful Improvement in Pocket Cigarette-Machines,which improvement is fully set forth in the following specification andaccompanying drawings.

My invention relates to improvements in pocket cigarette-rollingmachines of the class employing a single traveling apron, the objectbeing to provide a construction in which the movement of the apron, aswellas the pressure that is applied to the cigarette as it is beingrolled, is manually controlled, that the speed of said apron and thecomparative pressure applied can be regulated to produce a cigarettethat is rolled in accordance with the existing conditions-that is tosay, the class of tobacco used and the desire of the smoker for atightly or loosely rolled cigarette.

The invention consists in the novel features of construction hereinafterfully described and claimed.

Figure 1 represents a perspective view of a cigarette-machine embodyingmy invention. Fig. 2 represents a transverse section of Fig. 1, showingthe initial step of rollinga cigarette, the parts being shown inoperative position when pressure is applied thereto. Fig. 3 represents atransverse sectional view similar to Fig. 2, showing the parts in closedposition when pressure is applied thereto and the cigarette innearly-finished condition.

Fig. at represents a perspective view of the cigarette-machine, showingthe cigarette finished and ready to be discharged from the machine. Fig.5 represents an end elevation of the cigarettemachiue.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in thefigures.

Referring to the drawings, A designates a pocket cigarette-machine,thesame consisting of a base B, the end walls 0, and the front and rearwalls D and E, respectively.

Mounted in the end walls C and rotatable freely in either direction is ashaft F, provided at one end with a finger-piece F by means of which itcan be rotated, it being noted that this shaft is not confined in itsbearings, but is free to rotate in either direction. The said shaft issituated near the front wall D, so that a chamber H, extendingthroughout the length of the casing, is formed in the space between saidshaft F and the walls D and E. The apron F is attached at one end tosaid shaft, being provided at its other end with the transverseenlargement or stop Q. It is thus seen that the apron can be drawn outor unwound from the shaft by pulling upon the end thereof and that it iswound upon said shaft by manipulating the fingerpiece F The lid J of thecasing of the cigarette1nachine is hinged at the upper edge of the rearwall E, and its upper member K overlaps the front wall I) when closed.The said lid J carries a lower and resilient member L, or, in otherwords, a spring-plate, the same being situated adjacent the inner faceof said member K and wide enough to rest upon the top edge M of thefront wall D, the said resilient member or spring-plate L normallystanding away from the inner face of the member K, as best shown in Fig.5. The saidresilient member or spring-plate L is provided with alongitudinal ridge or offset N, which when the lid is closed is situatedon the inside of the upper edge M of the front wall D and is adapted tobear upon the apron F. The enlargement or stop Q at the free end of theapron serves to limit the extent to which the apron can be wound uponthe shaft when the lid is closed, as best seen in Fig. 3.

R represents a wrapper, S tobacco, and T the finished cigarette.

The operation is as follows: To roll a cigarette, the parts are placedin the position seen in Fig. 1, the lid J being opened and the apron Fpreferably turned thereover. The wrapper R is placed in position, sothat a major portion thereof projects, as seen in said figure.Thetobaccohavingbeenplaced upon the. wrapper, the lid is closed to bringthe parts to the posit-ion shown in Fig. 2. It is best, then, to holdthe machine in the left hand, conveniently between the thumb andforefinger, with the thumb resting upon the lid. The thumb andforefinger of the right hand can then be used to turn the finger-piece Fto Wind the apron upon the shaft. In so doing the experience of theoperator will lead him to regulate the pressure upon the lid, which isconveyed to the apron through the resilient member or spring-plate L onthe inner face of the lid to determine the pressure that is applied tothe cigarette during rolling to effect a tightly or loosely rolledarticle, while at the same time he will wind the apron at such speedthat secures the best results, it

being noted that the same can be wound slowly or quickly or the speedvaried according to existing conditions. These conditions relate to thekind'and quantity of tobacco as well as the desire for a tight or loosecigarette. It is obvious that by placing considerable pressure upon thelid and Winding the apron slowly a tighter cigarette is formed than ifonly a moderate degree of pressure is exerted and the apron is quicklywound. WVhen the enlargement or stop reaches the lid, as shown in Fig.3, it tends to raise the same and simultaneously discharge the cigarettefrom the machine.

It is evident that I provide an improved cigarette-machine thatpossesses the capabilities set forthnamely, the perfect control andregulation of the means for rolling and for exerting a pressure upon thecigaretteand that,furthermore,the constructionis simple, inexpensive,and durable.

It is to be noted that the said spring-plate or resilient member L canbe formed integral with the lid by constructing the same of a singlepiece of metal folded upon itself to form the membersKand L and runningthe pintle of the hinge-joint between the lid and the easing through thebend thereof.

Having thus described my invention, what being provided exterior to saidcasing with 7 means for manipulating the same, whereby the speed withwhich the apron is wound upon the shaft can be varied and regulated asthe cigarette is being rolled, and a lid upon said casing provided witha resilient member situated on the inner side thereof to engage saidapron to exert a spring-pressure upon the cigarette as it is beingrolled.

2. In a pocket cigarette-machine, a casing, a shaft mounted therein andcapable of rotating freely in either direction, an apron having one endsecured to said shaft, said shaft being provided exterior to said casingwith means for manipulating the same, whereby the speed with which theapron is wound upon the shaft can be varied and regulated as thecigarette is being rolled, and a lid upon said casingprovided with aresilient member situated on the inner side thereof to engage said apronto exert aspring-pressure upon the cigarette as it is being rolled, saidresilient member being provided with a longitudinal ridge or offset.

MORRIS KEEN.

Witnesses:

JOHN A. WIEDERSHEIM, WM. 0. WIEDERSHEIM.

